[QUOTE]Originally posted by wordcrafter:wamble – to move unsteadily or with a weaving or rolling motion

Reminds me of Elisabeth Beresford's universally loved Wombles. Wombles and wombling were widely used and found themselves in most dictionaries. They were leads in a children's TV series from 1968 onwards. For those with an advanced intelligence system like mine, i.e. well ensconced in second childhood, these lines may refresh your failing whotsits.

Underground, Overground, Wombling Free,The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we.Making good use of the things that we find,Things that the everyday folks leave behind.

Uncle Bulgaria,He can remember the days when he wasn't behind The Times,With his map of the World.Pick up the papers and take them to Tobermory!

Wombles are organized, work as a team.Wombles are tidy and Wombles are clean.Underground, Overground, wombling free,The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we!

People don't notice us, they never see,Under their noses a Womble may be.We womble by night and we womble by day,Looking for litter to trundle away.

We're so incredibly, utterly deviousMaking the most of everything.Even bottles and tins.Pick up the pieces and make them into something new,Is what we do!

Originally posted by arnie:And then, of course, 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.

Not quite sure how that fits with wamble or Wombles. I'm confused (again).Isn't it from Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll?

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.'Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shunThe frumious Bandersnatch!'

he will again begin to calumniate me with all the venom at his disposal.– George Orwell, Burmese Days

He has crowned the audacity of this debate by venturing to rise here and calumniate me. …I will read from the debate … to show what I said in response to that calumny … – Senator Charles Sumner, U.S. Senate, May 20, 1856

Let's carry the last quote a little further.

… he has alleged facts that are entirely without foundation, in order to heap upon me some personal obloquy. … no person with the upright form of man can be allowed, without violation to all decency, to switch out from his tongue the perpetual stench of offensive personality. Sir, that is not a proper weapon of debate, at least, on this floor. The noisome, squat, and nameless animal, to which I now refer, is not a proper model for an American Senator. Will the Senator from Illinois take notice?

MR. DOUGLAS: I will; and therefore will not imitate you, sir. … I would certainly never imitate you in that capacity, recognizing the force of the illustration.

A single word from the white men [at a sale of slaves] was enough – against all our wishes, prayers, and entreaties – to sunder forever the dearest friends, dearest kindred, and strongest ties known to human beings.– Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself

Great Britain took advantage … to seize complete control of the Atlantic and thus to sunder the French forces in North America from sources of supply and reinforcement in France. Thus, the British were able to take France's possessions in North America.– Chris Chant et al., Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World

Let's end our weekly theme with a vigorous verb of convivial celebration. Let the party begin!

roister – to celebrate noisely and boisterously

They drink his wine, devour his stores, break up the furniture for firewood, roister all night, and sleep all day.– Bernard Evslin, The Adventures Of Ulysses

Let us have language worthy of our world, a democratic style where rich and well-born nouns can roister with some sluttish verb yet find themselves content and uncomplained of.– Michael Dirda, Book by Book: Notes on Reading And Life